New Appointments for Dean of FGS, Kelley Main
The Faculty of Graduate Studies is pleased to share that Dr. Kelley Main, Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, has been confirmed as President of the Western Canadian Deans Graduate Studies (WCDGS) effective January 2025 and was also appointed as a Director to the Board of Directors of the Canadian Association for Graduate Studies (CAGS) late in 2024.
These distinguished appointments reflect Dr. Main’s outstanding leadership in graduate education and her dedication to advancing the quality and impact of graduate programs, both at UM and across Canada.
As President of WCDGS, Dr. Main will lead a collaborative network of deans from Western Canada committed to promoting excellence in graduate education through advocacy, research, and the sharing of best practices. Her role will involve facilitating dialogue on key issues facing graduate education and fostering regional cooperation among institutions.
Dr. Main’s involvement with WCDGS began in 2019, when she attended her first annual conference. When a past president called for volunteers to help plan the annual conference program, Dr. Main stepped forward and joined as a member-at-large. Not long after, when one of the executive positions became vacant due to a leadership change at another institution, Dr. Main was appointed Secretary-Treasurer. From there, she moved through executive roles, becoming Vice-President, and then officially taking on the role of President at the January 2025 conference.
Around the same time, Dr. Main also applied for an open position on the CAGS Board of Directors. Her ideas and experience resonated with the board, and her appointment was confirmed late in 2024. Dr. Main is excited to share that UM will be hosting the CAGS Summer Leadership Program taking place this May 21 –23. “This is a unique opportunity for new and experienced leaders in graduate education, including associate and assistant deans, graduate chairs, program directors, senior staff, and faculty supervisors, to engage in leadership development, collaboration, and strategic dialogue happening right here at UM”. Anyone interested in attending is invited to see event details at https://cags-aces.wildapricot.org/Leadership.
Her appointments as President of the Western Canadian Deans of Graduate Studies and to the CAGS Board of Directors further strengthens her influence at the national level and represents UM as part of the national conversation. CAGS plays a pivotal role in shaping graduate education policy and supporting innovation in research and learning across Canada. As a board member, Dr. Main will help guide national strategies and initiatives aimed at improving the graduate student experience and ensuring Canadian graduate programs remain globally competitive.